Pipex is turning to its existing customer base to help it recruit more than 24,000 new broadband punters.

The ISP claims its Refer-A-Friend scheme is "no gimmick" and is "simplicity" itself to understand.

As part of the £500,000 promo, Pipex has built a "secure online password protected tracking facility" [we'll keep an eye on that, Ed] that lets customers keep tabs on how many friends they've referred.

However, the scheme is limited and is being run on a first come, first served basis.

In a statement Pipex MD, David Rickards, said that the offer would leave "its customers smiling...leaving the competition even further behind...looking seriously slow and just a little sad."

Sad? Sad? What does he mean? ®